In India, who introduced the idea of the poverty line for the first time?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer option 1 i.e. Dadabhai Naoroji.
Dadabhai Naoroji introduced the idea of the poverty line for the first time in India. Through his seminal work, 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India' (1901), Naoroji made the first systematic estimation of India's national income and poverty.
He calculated a subsistence-based poverty line, ranging from ₹16 to ₹35 per capita per year, based on the cost of a minimal diet and other essential needs. This groundbreaking concept laid the foundation for all future poverty studies in India.
His 'drain of wealth' theory also explained how colonial economic policies were the primary cause of this widespread impoverishment, making him a pioneer in Indian economic thought.